How to Make a Teabag Hot Air Balloon
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This article explains how you can make your very own hot air balloon at home! This activity involves a flame and parental supervision is required for young children.
[edit] Steps
- Get a teabag. Remove the string from the teabag and any little tag.
- Open up the teabag and pour the tea contents into a teapot to make a cup of tea later.
- Stand the teabag upright on a tin tray.
- Light the top of the teabag with a match.
- Watch it burn. As the flame consumes the teabag, it burns to the bottom of it.
- Watch out! As the flame reaches the bottom, the teabag will become airborne and you have your very own hot air balloon.
- Catch it. It will rise and then quickly fall. It is cool enough for you to catch and dispose of now.
[edit] Tips
- What's happening? The teabag is forced to remain in contact with the surface of the workbench by gravity because it is so heavy; however, as the fire consumes most of it, it becomes so light that the lift created by the hot air is enough to overcome gravity.
[edit] Warnings
- Only do this where there is plenty of space between your workbench and the ceiling.
- Always have a fire blanket or some other fire quelling item on hand in case something goes wrong. This is a simple experiment and should work fine but you should be careful all the same.
- As with any activities involving fire, parental supervision is required for young children.










